I started a thread in the touring section on touring on a LWB recumbent but I suspect some recumbent riders may not visit there so hence this cross posting. Interested in feedback from a commuting/Audax perspective as well on the options so if you have a mo please do drop into the other thread.

What ever happened to that LWB that was being developed locally, had remote steering to avoid tiller bars and a built-in fairing? Was a collaboration with Cruzbike of sorts.

Edit: I found some details, was called the Sigma and had a website no longer maintained (as well as fanfare on BROL) so i guess John Tolhurst didn't take this into production. Might still be a couple of prototypes kicking around Perth if Andrew wants to try a different LWB.

If you're interested in the Sigma there are still some old stock bikes available. If you're interested then get in contact with John via the Cruzbiking.com.au website. Either John or Kim will answer your queries.

Aushiker wrote:I saw a LWB on Cockburn Rd ... would love to chat to the rider

Heard that you got a chance to try the TourEasy out today, what do you think of the bike in general? Bear in mind that this is a 20 year old bike and if you went for a TE or similar LWB now you wouldn't be seeing the old parts and lashed-together bits. In fact I was just there today to install a light mount to fit in front of the fairing and managed to convince him to let me machine an improved top mount for his fairing, it appears that the fairing had popped off one corner during your test ride. I don't like the handlebars, not because of the narrowness but because there is so little adjustment available to for height and angle of the grips. And the bike is long, but then again it'd be a limousine out on a tour.Thoughts?

Aushiker wrote:I saw a LWB on Cockburn Rd ... would love to chat to the rider

Heard that you got a chance to try the TourEasy out today, what do you think of the bike in general?

Besides nearly taking out a pot plant or three when I wobbled down the driveway, it went great. Thanks for putting me on to Darryl. Great bloke.

Bear in mind that this is a 20 year old bike and if you went for a TE or similar LWB now you wouldn't be seeing the old parts and lashed-together bits. In fact I was just there today to install a light mount to fit in front of the fairing and managed to convince him to let me machine an improved top mount for his fairing, it appears that the fairing had popped off one corner during your test ride.

Yeah, appreciate that and did notice the fairing had popped out. I like the overall design for sure. My only niggle was the narrowness of the handlebars, but then that maybe something one gets used to.

I don't like the handlebars, not because of the narrowness but because there is so little adjustment available to for height and angle of the grips. And the bike is long, but then again it'd be a limousine out on a tour.Thoughts?

I really like the design and I think a Gold Rush Replica would be a great way to go but and it is a big but for me is that the price of the new Gold Rush Replica has now jumped to around US$4,500 I believe (BROL pricing), I can see the length being an issue for me both at home and at work (commuting) and one thing I wanted to do with with this recumbent option is to provide me with options when the velomobile is not suitable, e.g., having to take a bus to a tour start point, driving to a Audax start point etc. I am not sure the length of the Tour Easy/GRR is going to allow that.

Hi Andrew,Have you looked at the recycledrecumbents site?ADC has plans there for a Mk1 and Mk2. The mark1 is basically a Toureasy. I also have some original TE plans from back in the days when they sold them.I built a Mk2 for myself. All up I have built four recycledrecumbents. They all ride beautifully but the steering on the Mk2 is best as it has a lot less tiller.This is my Mk2

Nice looking bikes there John! Makes me wonder if a variation using the idea of the Fold Rush where the rear wheel tucks under much like a brompton would be an option to get the length down a bit when needed.

John Lewis wrote:Hi Andrew,Have you looked at the recycledrecumbents site?ADC has plans there for a Mk1 and Mk2. The mark1 is basically a Toureasy. I also have some original TE plans from back in the days when they sold them.I built a Mk2 for myself. All up I have built four recycledrecumbents. They all ride beautifully but the steering on the Mk2 is best as it has a lot less tiller.John

Nice looking bikes John but building a bike is really outside of my skill set. BTW will down in Albany on Saturday. Heading off on the Munda Biddi on Sunday AM.

Roadie wrote:Well made bikes John. I'm about to start making an atomic zombie wildcat. Very similar design but with underseat steering. I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Hi Roadie,

I have built a couple of AZ designs. A bit heavy but ride nicely enough.I built a DeltaWolf trike and a Marauder Mk2 long wheelbase lowracer.Unfortunately the build diary on AZ for the Wolf has disappeared along with all the other 2008 posts when they upgraded the site. A pity as I had done a lot of documentation.I think I posted pictures of them on this site some long time back.The Marauder is very fast until you come to a hill then the weight makes itself known but it is still pretty good.The Wolf is a great trike and I enjoy riding it almost as much as the Recycled Mk2.

All the round tube bikes I've done were fillet brazed.I built one trike and my Bentech SWB from muffler tube. Can't recall the weight but it was acceptable.Cro Mo is nice but you need to either TIG weld and stress relieve by heating with Oxy and allowing to cool slowly or fillet braze. I don't have TIG skills.I once knew where to get the Cro Mo tubing but for the life of me I can't recall where it was.

I ended up buying some 32mm o/d, 1.6mm wall exhaust pipe today and fillet brazing was my intension for putting it together. I guess I just have to suck it and see how heavy it turns out. Poiter- why do you say don't use chromoly? Thanks for the link.

I think Poiter is saying you want Cro Mo tubing. If recall he has built some bikes in Cro Mo.Pipe is thick walled and heavy.Cro Mo tubing can be used in a thinner wall than mild steel because it is much stronger. As I recall some of the tubing in my aeroplane was only about .035" The 1.6mm muffler tube is in the vicinity of .062" and probably of somewhat similar strength but heaps heavier.I'm no expert though. I do know that muffler tube worked for me. Remember to get rid of the outer coating where you want to braze. A flap wheel did it for me.

1.2mm wall mild steel works OK and can be got through "Hills" outlets pretty cheap.I've used 50mm 1.2 straight mild steel on SWB builds.Just fouund the MTBF was less with mild compared to Cr-mo which so far haven't "F'd".The Amelicans used to just cut up old bike frames to make the early LWB clones. You could sleeve the long tubes and braze them up.

Thanks guys, i looked at that link and the choices of tube is huge. No doubt I'll find plenty of things to do different next time so I'll look at cromo TUBE then. I was thinking the chain is probably one of the other heaviest components. Ever heard of a lightweight chain?

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